The speaker describes a small, familiar moment: early morning, around 6 a.m., when the air hits the back of the throat and somehow brings a feeling of hope. The speaker isn't even sure of the exact hour, saying "or whenever it is / that the Sun returns again," which makes the feeling seem less about the clock and more about the simple fact of a new day starting. The taste and smell of the air are physical and immediate, and the word "always" suggests this has happened many times.
Then the poem turns. After a pause, the speaker admits that "sometimes though" hope "makes everything worse." The short, blunt last line cuts against the gentle opening. The poem suggests that hope can sharpen how far away good things feel, or how heavy the day ahead is. The mood begins calm and quietly warm, then shifts to something tired and honest, leaving the reader with an uneasy, bittersweet feeling.